I love what I’m seeing from Arne Slot – and Liverpool’s unconventional transfer strategy could prove a masterstroke
YOU only get one chance to make a first impression and, I must admit, I like what I’ve seen of Arne Slot so far.
Winning his first two games helps, of course. Although, to be honest, if Liverpool hadn’t beaten Ipswich and Brentford people would have been asking ‘what’s happening here?’
But what really impressed me is the way he handled himself after both games with people wanting to know what he’s changed since Jurgen Klopp left.
Just because he’s new, people have been saying he must be working on this or that, different patterns or whatever.
But Slot was straight up. He said he hadn’t worked on anything particularly new. It was down to good players making the right moves and connecting with each other.
Very honest — and he’s dead right as well. There’s no magic formula, you don’t need to tell lads who’ve played together for years where they should be running or when they should be passing.
Maybe that’s why he didn’t do a lot of business in the transfer window. Perhaps he looked at what he had and was quite happy with it.
I’m sure everyone thought a new manager would mean a few new players at Liverpool, as well. That’s normally the case.
But why shouldn’t Slot think ‘you know what, this is pretty decent, I don’t need to change a lot here.’
People seem to forget Liverpool were in with a chance of a treble until deep into last season. At one stage they were on about winning the lot.
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Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL’S new manager Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.
I know it all seemed to fall apart pretty quickly in the end but they were in with a shout for a long time.
So perhaps Slot came in and liked the look of what he had. It’s not as though he’s short of options either, is it?
Two great full-backs, the goalkeeper, Virgil van Dijk in the middle and Mo Salah’s still a fantastic player — as he showed in last week’s 2-0 win over Brentford.
In fact look how many forwards he’s got… Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota. So it’s no surprise he only added Federico Chiesa from Juventus this week.
It’s been much the same story at Manchester City and Arsenal, too, because they haven’t done much this summer either.
The thing is, having too many players can cause just as many problems as not having enough simply because every time you pick a team, someone gets the needle.
Look at the kid at Arsenal last week, Leandro Trossard. He came on in the second half against Aston Villa and scored, but still had the raving hump.
All the other lads were jumping around and he was there fuming, like ‘see, how could you leave me out?’
It’s something that will never change. They all love you when you pick them and think you’re crap when you don’t!
Obviously the more players you have, the more you leave out, and the more unhappy voices in the dressing room. That can cause you aggro, believe me.
And Slot’s made a decent enough start with the players he’s got already, although Sunday’s game at Manchester United will be a different level to the two he’s had so far.
It’s going to be really tight and we saw last year how United get up for this one. Even so, I can’t see Liverpool losing… it’s just whether they can win it.
There’s no doubt that Erik ten Hag is the manager under most pressure after getting chinned late on at Brighton last weekend.
It will come down on him early this year if things start to slip, especially with Gareth Southgate lurking in the background now he’s no longer England boss.
If Slot can make it three out of three — especially when the third is at Old Trafford — Liverpool have the chance to get a real head of steam.
Whether they’ll be able to close the gap on the two who finished above them last time, I don’t know. But they’ll certainly be a genuine force.
So if you put a gun to my head, I’d just about favour Liverpool to nick it… although I really wouldn’t be surprised if it ended all square.
Sven tribute
I SPENT four or five days with Sven-Goran Eriksson when we were both working on Soccer Aid a few years ago and loved every minute of it.
It was a pleasure to be around him. He was an absolute true gentleman and it was just so very sad to hear of his passing.